Winter Redfish, Trout and Flounder at Redfish University
Capt. Eric Holstman
February 10, 2012
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Great reports from Pensacola's upper bays from Redfish University.
HUGE numbers at Redfish University-Jan. 18-20, 2012
Took a much needed break last weekend and earlier in the week but got back to business mid-week. Business is GOOD. Big numbers of redfish, speckled trout and a few flounder each trip made for some incredibly successful instructional and pure fish-catching Redfish University guide trips. With the warmer weather as of late, we fished lots of mullet and bait infested flats and especially windy, unprotected banks. As always, a Gulp! 5″ Jerkshad is absolutely deadly but we did switch over to some Johnson 1/4oz. Gold Spoons and small Bongos in areas with large numbers of redfish. In some areas, the speckled trout can be taken on nearly every cast with most being legal in the 16-18″ range. In fact, we're really seeing more quality speckled trout than years past and found consistent 3-4# speckled trout in some areas. The flounder are still found on current swept points around uneven bottom. I suspect if we were actually targeting flounder we'd catch many more per trip but our primary focus is redfish and trout. Speaking of redfish, some beautiful redfish in the 24-27″ range are coming to the boat pretty frequently. The 27″ line on my Redfish Cup stick hasn't been tickled this much since my days on The Cup. Some close, some over and some just right. A perfect, 27″ redfish this Winter has weighed between 7.25-7.75# so they're definitely eating well. Some catch and release trips, and then some "fill the cooler" trips this week but with one thing in common, lots of fun and lots of fish!! A blacked-out livewell is good. Heading out at 100pm today for more Grand Slam action. Thanks, E Holstman
The redfish woke up and so did everything else at Redfish University-Jan. 31, 2012
Guided my longtime family physician and a family friend today. They had been hearing about the huge catches of redfish, speckled trout and flounder and wanted to get in on the action and have a fish fry. One angler was very experienced and the other was a true beginner and needed extra guidance. Very, very windy today but the water was moving very rapidly which helped tremendously. Started with quite a few very nice speckled trout(one 4# fish) in the 16-22″ range and a 26.5″ redfish right off the bat. Travelled south and found a bunch more speckled trout, quality redfish and some flounder. Fished both wind-blown and protected banks where there was an abundance of mullet in all sizes. The guys did a great job of focusing on technique and casting in between beers and cigars. We actually had 5-6 nice flounder to the boat today but only one hit the deck which turned into a Grand Slam for our new inshore angler, Dr. Bill. Bill also stuck the largest speckled trout I've ever seen in our target area. Hooked the fish, it jumped, took lots of line, jumped again, came to the boat, surfaced and spit the hook. I would estimate the trout at 6-7# easily. Just as well, he would have been released. Ended the day with several topwater strikes but nothing found the hooks. Total for the short trip was 9-10 redfish, 25-30 trout and some dropped flounder. Most fish released but three redfish from 24-26.5″, some speckled trout in the 16-23″ range and a flounder were taken for the cookout. They caught so many fish and worked me so hard I charged them double! Hitting them with the hammer again tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. Thanks, E Holstman
Three awesome trips in two days at Redfish University- Feb. 2, 3 2012
Two great trips today and one yesterday. All three trips focused on redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Sticking with the Gulp! 5″ Jerkshads since they catch the most fish. The trout in the bayous ranged from 15-18″ and the ones in the northern bays are much bigger with many in the 3-4# range. The redfish were also biting very well and we found lots of fish in the 24-27″ range. Flounder are a bit of a bonus but there are certainly a few areas where there are quite a few fish. Over 100 trout in three trips. They're biting very well. Two catch-and-release trips and this afternoon's outing was quite different with a limit of quality speckled trout, redfish and one flounder. Superbowl cookout! Tired and my apologies for the very short report. Taking a few days off since the new boat is coming very soon. Thanks, E Holstman
Destin, East Bay and homeschooling at Redfish University-Feb. 8,9,10 2012
It was a very exciting week at Redfish University. Great fishing, new boats, Redfish U. expansion, homeschooling, fishing out of a 17 Maverick with a tower(everyone knows my disdain for tower boats)… We got some exciting new ventures here at Redfish University in the very near future along with another awesome boat to add to the RU arsenal. In a week's time, the 2012 Pathfinder 2300 HPS/Yamaha SHO 250 will arrive at my door. The Pathfinder will allow Redfish U to comfortably enter the Gulf waters in search of pompano, bull redfish and even some bottom fishing. I will stick to my expertise on the inshore flats with the knowledge-thirsty and experienced RU clients and a new captain at Redfish University will handle the more basic, family outings and bottom fishing adventures. Also, a new Redfish University VIP section is in the works. An advertising/marketing surge. So there you have it….. Expansion.
Another way Redfish University will expand is a service we call "Redfish University Homeschooling." Last year we performed nine of these popular events. We have scheduled many more homeschooling courses this year and have already performed three since Jan. 1, including one this morning at a local business. Basically, the Redfish University Homeschooling course is a extremely detailed five hour guide trip packed into a two hour course in a conference room setting. Powerpoint, projection screen, large maps, rods/reels, baits, knots, basic/advanced techniques and tricks. Sometimes we even bring the boat. Homeschooling is designed for local businesses, organizations, clubs, churches, families, etc. to learn about local inshore fishing in a group setting. Homeschooling has been a great addition to Redfish University. This morning's course was awesome with a great group of eight fellas, some of which are out fishing right now and have texted me some nice redfish and trout photos already. The Redfish U. Homeschooling rate is $100 per person/6 person minimum. Most will burn that in a day or two looking for fish. Why not trailer your boat and go to the fish directly?
With the 21 Redfisher being rigged with a brand new Yamaha SHO 250 and the Pathfinder 2300 HPS on it's way, I am fishing on a familiar little "workhorse" for a week, the 1997 Maverick MA. My tournament partner, Sonny, and I used this boat for prefishing for the Redfish Cup and is now covered in logos from a company I owed and created called Anglertube. Another story for another day. The boat also holds sentimental value as it also belonged to my friend, Bob Quarles. Solid, dependable boat but now it has a tower with a steering wheel on it. Gay. Anyway, the boat apparently still produces mounds of fish!
Wednesday's guide trip in Destin was an instructional and fish catching adventure. Launched down at Hogtown Bayou with a few guys that just wanted to learn how to catch redfish and trout on artificial baits. Travelled to the mouth and cove areas around Hogtown Bayou and found plenty of schools of mullet. Started launching Johnson 1/4oz Gold Spoons with 12# fluoro and it wasn't long before redfish were flopping around the boat. No really big ones but all 21-24″. I've never seen two more enthusiastic and excited guys. I had to explain that it's not always this easy!! Turned the corner and found some quality speckled trout in 3-5′ of water including a big 4# fish. We probably got 15-20 trout and the guys were equally as impressed. Travelled east to some more banks littered with docks. Had to show the fellas what some difficult redfish looked like. Saw plenty, lots of nicely placed casts and I ended up fooling one eventually. Backed off them and blindcasted a few more. Great trip and they kept a few fish for dinner.
Yesterday's trip over in East Bay was awesome! I guided two really cool anglers from Michigan, Judy and Gordie. These guys were down for their 10th anniversary and had never caught a redfish or speckled trout. They came to the right place. Started slowly with some great speckled trout and then started to get some very consistent redfish bites. Our limit in trout came quickly and our redfish limit was missed several times. Lots of unbuttoned redfish but we did get three quality redfish in the cooler including a 26 and a 27 inch fish on the dot. Gordie kept me in stitches all afternoon with classic joke after joke! Really a quick and clever guy. My kinda guy. A few of my favorites were, "I wouldn't sh-t you, you're my favorite turd" and "a gull which flies over the sea is a seagull. Would a gull that flies over the bay be call a bagel(baygull)?" All afternoon! I have a great time with all my clients but I hope to see Judy and Gordie really soon like in April! Anyway, we probably caught 40 trout and 6 redfish with as many coming off after burning drag and at the boat. Kept 10 solid trout and 3 24-27″ redfish. All other fish released. No fishing this weekend but a full slate of Redfish U trips next week. See ya then, E Holstman
Pensacola Fishing Forecast:
Always excellent
Target Species:
Redfish, Speckled Trout and Flounder
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